Beijing is now a major battlefield in Taiwanese domestic political affairs as China attempts to lure opposition politicians and businessmen, warned a leading American scholar in Taipei yesterday.
"This is very damaging to Taipei to provide Beijing with an opportunity to divide and conquer," said Ralph A. Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum, an affiliate of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Cossa made the statement during his presentation on "New Development in US Asia-Pacific Policy" in the third conference of the Asia-Pacific Security Forum held in Taipei yesterday.
Cossa also defended a recent article published on the CSIS Web site which cited Chinese analysts as saying that many KMT delegations to China in the past year have urged Beijing to avoid opening dialogue with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
"I've heard the same thing from officials in China. At least Bonnie [ S. Glaser, the author of the article] has accurately reported what Chinese officials said to her," Cossa said in the two-day conference.
Glaser cited Chinese analysts in her article entitled, "China's Taiwan Policy:" Still Listening and Watching as saying that "scores of KMT delegations visiting China in the past year have urged it to avoid opening a dialogue with Chen that might strengthen his position and increase his chances for re-election."
The paper said some KMT members urged the Chinese government "to await the return of their party to power, promising that the KMT will pursue a cross-strait policy that is more amenable to Beijing."
The article also said some KMT members urge the Chinese to further weaken Chen domestically by attacking him as an advocate of independence.
The KMT, however, has denied it ever blocked a resumption of talks with Taiwan, saying Chen's refusal to accept the so-called 1992 consensus of "one China, with each side having different interpretations" is the real problem hampering dialogue.
Participants at the forum also debated issues such as the extent of Taiwan's ambition to seek international recognition, the possibility of building a NATO in Asia, as well as prospects for the US-Japan alliance.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Tzu-dan (
But not everyone agreed with the wisdom of the suggestion.
Cossa urged Taiwan to pick the nation's fights in the diplomatic fields "much more wisely," especially when facing a US administration friendly to the island.
Taiwan's attempt to engage in the regional forum, for instance, would be futile, as the forum has already reached a consensus on excluding Taiwan, Cossa said.
"When you push for things like that, you hand the mainland a victory," Cossa added.
Robyn Lim, professor at the Department of Policy Studies at Japan's Nanzan University, agreed, saying that although Taiwan, as a democracy, has people wishing to see their leaders raise the nation's international visibility, moves that invite rejection may not benefit the country.
Taiwan should engage in fighting corruption and enhancing national unity in order to make it "attractive" to the US and its allies in the region, Lim added.
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